Vise



Sept. 14, 1937. o. s. WEED 2,093,297

VISE

Filed Feb. 19, 1937 ATTCRNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vises, an object of the invention being to provide an improved construction and arrangement of jaws in combination with a suitable base which enables a wide variation in the arrangement of jaws and shapes thereof to clamp and securely hold any article, the jaws being removable from the base so that when not in use they will not obstruct the surface of the bench or other support of which the base may form a permanent or a removable part.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simple, inexpensive in construction, and strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims,

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a broken View in longitudinal section illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the jaws shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a modified form of base;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of jaw;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of base to receive the jaw shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section illustrating a modified shape of jaw head to grip a round surface such as a pipe.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, I represents a base which may be a metal plate, bar, or other similar construction, which may constitute a separate member Xed to a bench or removable therefrom, and which is provided with a series of openings II. These openings are curved longitudinally, the openings at one side of the. center of the base being curved in a direction opposite to the curvature of the openings at the other half of the base.

My improved jaws I2 constitute bars of metal curved longitudinally and conforming in curvature to the curvature of the openings II, and these jaws are provided with transversely extending gripping heads I3 adapted to grip an article I4 between them. The jaws I2 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing are angular in transverse section, as are the openings I I, so that they cannot turn in the openings. When these jaws are positioned in the openings with an article between the heads thereof and a downward blow by a hammer or other device is imparted to the upper ends of the jaws, these jaws will be forced downwardly through the openings and a cam action will be exerted to move the heads of the jaws, I3, toward each other to securely clamp the article between them. When it is desired to release the article, the lower ends of the jaws are struck by an upward blow to force the jaws upwardly and cause the same to release the article.

Fig. 4 illustrates a form of base I5 with a plurality of series of staggered openings I6 so that with a base of this kind the jaws may be staggered or in alignment as desired.

Fig. illustrates a modied form of jaw I1 which is curved or circular in cross section adapted to be located in a base I8 such as shown in Fig. 6, with circular openings I9. This is illustrative of the fact that the jaw may be of any shape in cross section and, of course, it would be impossible to illustrate and describe all the possible shapes which the jaws may have in cross section.

Fig. 7 is illustrative of the fact that the heads 2l) of the jaws corresponding to the heads I3, may be serrated or toothed to grip a pipe or other curved surface, and it is obvious that the heads of the jaws as well as the main portions of the jaws may be variously shaped to suit the trade.

When the jaws are not in use as a vise, they are entirely removed from the base so that the face of the bench is smooth and unobstructed by any vise.

While I have illustrated and described what I believe to be preferred embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that various slight changes may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of parts without departing from my invention, and hence I consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A vise including a base having spaced openings therein, the walls of said openings being curved longitudinally, the curvature of the walls of one of said openings /being opposite to the curvature of the walls of the other of said openings, and a pair of jaws curved longitudinally in conformity with the curvature of the walls of said openings.

2. A vise including a base having an aligned series of openings therein, the walls of all of said openings being curved longitudinally and the curvature of the walls of the openings at one side of the center of the base being curved in a direction opposite to the curvature of the walls of the openings at the'other side of the center of said base, and a pair of jaws curved longitudinally in conformity with the curvature of the openings and movable longitudinally in4 said openings whereby a cam action is exerted on the jaws to move them toward or away from each other in accordance with the direction of movement oi' the Jaws.

3. A vise including a base having spaced openings therein, the walls of said openings being curved longitudinally, the curvature of the walls of one of said openings being opposite to the curvature of the walls of the other of said openings, and a pair of :laws curved longitudinally in conformity with the curvature of the walls of said openings, said jaws and said openings being angular in cross section so that turning movement of the jaws in the openings is prevented.

4. A vise including a base having an aligned series of openings therein, the walls of all of said openings being curved longitudinally and the curvature of the walls of the openings atone side of the center of the base being curved in a direction opposite to the curvature of the walls of the openings at the other side of the center of said base, and a pair of jaws curved longitudinally in conformity with the curvature of the openings and movable longitudinally in said openings whereby a cam action is exerted on the jaws to move them toward or away from each other in accordance with the direction of movement of the Jaws. said laws and said openings being angular in cross section so that turning movement of the Jaws in the openings is prevented. v

OSCAR B. WEED. 

